El Camino to diesel
 

I have a 1981 El Camino with a 350 motor...block cracked and have been thinking about turning it into diesel....but I need power still since I pull a lot...campers trailers an such. No idea how to go about this or even practicality of it...some one help please?

I think the chassis on those El Caminos are pretty similar to a Buick Regal:
18 to 1

here you go, find an old bread truck thats got a gm chassis and use the four cylinder cummins 4bt engine



4bt chevy 1994 z71 - YouTube

I'm sure a Duramax would fit...

those 4bt are real nice but most are rotary injection and they are very noisy i would be on the look out for a 4bd1t from an isuzu npr or a 4bd2t the 2t indirect injection and the 1t is direct injection these engines are quiet compared to the cummins and with an hx 35 and simple injection pump mods will have more than enough power to pull what every you like and give you very very good economy. a good friend of mine has a newer shortbed reg cab chevy lowered getting in the 30's all day mixed driving with a 4bd1t

Im know very little about motor.....so modding right off the bat is a no go...everyone I mention this to either laughs at me or looks at me like im trying to fly by flapping my arms...anyone think this is a good idea?

6.2 mechanical injection N/A or with a small turbo. I've heard when they put the 6.2 infront of a 700R4 on a 2wd pickup, it got 25mpg on the highway.

Why not a gasoline four-banger turbo? It should get better mileage than the 350, and depending on which 350 and what four-banger it could even give you more power.

-soD

If you are not very mechanically inclined then it may be too big of a project for you to tackle on your own. That said, a 6.2 or 6.5 GM diesel uses the same bellhousing bolt pattern, so you could keep your current transmission. If you found a complete donor vehicle with a 6.2 non-turbo setup, you could migrate all the parts over to make the Camino a diesel. But this is a lot of work, so make sure you are up to it before you get started. You might be better off selling the Camino and using the funds to get an older 6.2 pick up to work on, that way all the heavy work is done already.

Cant sell camino...had 9 years...been through too mucb..and I know its a big job.....restoring body now I'll try to post pictures tomorrow

You are mentioning it to the wrong people... or they have experience with the 1980's GM passenger car Diesels, that earned a reputation for being a terrible car.

Take a look at other Diesel conversions... VW Diesel into Suzuki Samurai has become almost a kit conversion. I've seen an late-1980's Buick Grand National with a factory GM Duramax transplanted into it, in person a couple years ago. The owner had a lot of hours in it, but it came out great.

ive seen that duramax in the grand national. i also saw one in a 70 chevelle. check out vids on youtube. would be an expensive swap though :/ i like the idea of the isuzu diesel. they use those engine in smaller rollback tow trucks and little box trucks etc. and im sure you could find one at a local you-pull-it junkyard. with a stick 2wd trans.

Wont let me post pictures for some reason

I'll post some for you... :)

(You need 10 posts before you can add photos)

Daryl Hannah's biodiesel el camino (which has since been sold): "it gets pretty decent gas mileage cause it's not so heavy 33mpg+ 5.7L gm diesel, automatic"

From: Daryl Hannah's eco green earth friendly products for sustainable living - -

http://www.dhlovelife.com/v2/knowdum...ages/66702.jpg

So, have you already decided which engine to go? Considering the results achieved with Kubota V2203 engines swapped into S10 and Ranger trucks, among other models, that might be a good option for you. And it's close in size to the Isuzu C-223...